Presiding over the sangha of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, the North American seat of His Holiness the seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche teaches on the Mahamudra Lineage Prayer. This supplication invokes the blessings of the Karma Kagyu Lineage and outlines the complete path of practice according to this tradition. It is recited by all practitioners at the beginning of meditation sessions.

In the first talk Rinpoche gives a brief biography of each of the seventeen Karmapas. In the following talks, on the basis of the Lineage Prayer he gives instructions on the common and uncommon preliminaries, tranquility and insight meditation, and Mahamudra.

Because of its great importance Thrangu Rinpoche has taught many times on the subject of the Mahamudra Lineage Prayer. He was initially requested to teach it by His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa because His Holiness felt it would help western students better understand the nature of the path.

Also seen in the recording of this weekend teaching are a refuge ceremony; a body, speech and mind offering; and the abbot of KTD, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, ceremonially presenting a khata to Thrangu Rinpoche.

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche is a renowned Tibetan Buddhist master known for his deep compassion and the clarity of his teachings. He was selected by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to serve as the principal tutor to His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Oryen Trinley Dorje.

Thrangu Rinpoche is a full holder and teacher of the Kagyu Vajrayana lineages. He founded the Namo Buddha retreat center in Nepal, has established two shedras (monastic universities) in Nepal and India, and serves as Abbot of Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia. He also built Tara Abbey, where nuns receive a full dharma education qualifying them to become khenpos or teachers. Thrangu Rinpoche teaches entensively throughout Asia, Europe and the United States. He has centers in Maine and California, and is building the Vajra Vidya Retreat Center in Crestone, Colorado.